Pyrophoric pocket lighter



Aug. 16, 1932. E. F. CLARK ET AL PYROPHORIC POCKET LIGHTER Filed Jan. 5. 1930 Patented UNITED s'nyr-lzsA PATENT or-'Flc-E EDWARD r. oLAnir, or msnm, num. Ann .um 'l'. Buenas, or roam Am nono, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIeNons, BY mun Assramms, 'ro Aa'r mu. wonxs, me., or NnwAnx, imw amsn, A coaronA'rroN or Naw rimorrromorocxm Lrcn'rna Aptuoauon med runny s. use. senin le. naiss.

This invention relates in general to' `improvements in pocket lightersl of the pyro.

phoric e. Y y e One of the objects of this inventlon is the 5 provision of a pocket lighter involving the principles of construction whereby eliiciepcy of operation and simplicity of construction are assured.

Another object of this invention is the pro-` vision in a ocket lighterof this type of a structure w ich requires but a single motion to uncover the wick and create sparksto ignite the vapors given off by the wick. A further object of this inventionis the .15 provision in a llghter of this type of a con.-

struction by means of which the snulfer is automatically returned to cover up the wick when the ressure thereon is relieved.

A still rther object of this invention is the provision of a snuifer arm construction v operatively associated with a flint wheel so that upon movement of the snuer arm to` uncover the wick the iiint wheel operates to produce a spark from the pyrophoric material and in the reverse movement of the by means of this invention.

rlhis invention resides substantially in the .combination, construction, arrangement and` relative location of parts, all as will be described in greater detail below.

Referring tothe drawing- Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view through the lighter of this invention; y

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the upper part of the lighter taken on the line 2-,2 of Fig.1; Y f Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig`. 4 is an elevational view of the upper part of the lighter showin the relation of the ratchet wheels, flint w eel, and snuer arm; l Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view showingthe position of the' snufer arm with respect to its supports when pressure is applied thereto and it begins to rise;

tion and its operation will best be understood by reference to the 'drawing in detail. At 1 is shown the container for holding the absorbent material 7 and the volatile fuel commonly used in such lighter. This casing is provided with a threaded opening to receive o the plug 2 through which the fuel is intro-` duced tothe interior of the container. The top of the container is shown at 4 and below it is the upper wall orpartition 3 of the container 1. The top4 wall 4 is cut out at the w4 center to provide a cavity below the upper end wall of the casing. The casing is provided with a wick tube 5 through which the wick 6 of the usual type projects. Extending upg wardly through the container 1 is the tu 8 which-is closed by means of an adjustable threaded plug 9. Egtending from the upper end of the tube 8 is the pyrophoric material 11 which is urged upwardly by a spring 10 L -which lies between it and the adjustable plug 9. Mounted on the top of wall 4 are two brackets 12 in which. is mounted Athe hollow central spindle 13. A small pin 14 extends through the tube 13 and is peened over at the ends to hold the parts in operative rela-A so gtion. Encircling the pin 14 is a spring 15v which has one end secured in a-notch in the end of the tube 13 as shown at 15a in Fig. 6.

The tube 13 is cut away, as shown at 13a for a short distance and the other end 15b of the spring extends therethrough.

Mounted on the tube 13 for rotation is the usual ii'nt wheel 17. Also mounted on the tube 13 for rotation thereon is a cap member 18 which covers all the parts and comprises ,0l

what might be called the snufer arm. Mounted within this cap 18 is t snuii'er member 29 which fits down over t e wick to put outl the ame and prevent evaporation of fuel when the device is'not in use. At the point formed in the cap18 by cutting away a poif-l 100 wick tube. .The spring also acts to hold the cap upwardly, that is so that the lower end of slot 16 comes to the bottom of the tube 13. Also mounted on the tube 13 and secured in any suitable manner to the flint wheel and on each side thereof are the ratchet wheels 19.

Thus the ratchet wheels and flint wheel rotate as a unit on the flint tube 13'. As clearly shown in the drawing the cap 18 has formed on the interior thereof and in line with the ratchet wheels two pins 20.

In the normal position of the parts the snufi'er arm 18 as described is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 with the snufier member 29 contacting ,with the wick tube 5 and 20'- the cap 18'held upwardly by the spring 15, as

shown. In operating the lighter, pressure is first applied to the top of cap 18 and as a result it moves downwardly, in the position shown in Fig. 5 for example, so ,that the top of the tube 13 contacts with the top end of slot 16. In other words, the cap 18 has a sliding vertical movement by reason of the slots'16 on the tube 13 and the first pressure thereon forces the cap downwardly. This 30" downward movement of the cap causes the fpins 20 to move into engagement with the ratchets 19, as is clear for example in Fig. 5. Backward pressure is then imparted to the y v cap 18 causing it to rotate in a clockwise direction, as indicated in Fig. 5, and carrying wi'thfit ratchet wheels 19 and flint wheel 17. As the flint wheel 17 moves across the'top of the pyrophoric material 11 sparks are prod duced which are thrown against the end of 40 wick 6 causing the vapors given off thereby to be lighted. Hence with a single movement of the thumb the cap and snuffer, which together comprise the snuiier arm, move upwardly exposing the wick and at the same 4s time the flint wheel is rotated to produce -During the movesparks to ignite the vapor. ment of cap 18 spring 15 is put under tension so that when the cap is relieved of pressure the spring throws it back into closed position, as shown for example in Fig. 1. At

the beginning of this return movement of the cap the first thing that happens is that the -spring throws the cap upwardly on the tube 13 and then the cap is given rotary motion in a counter-clockwise direction to close it and snuff out the flame. A

From the above description it will be apparent that we have devised an exceedingly simple structure in a pocket cigar and cigarette lighter in 'which the entire exposing the wick, producing operation 'of sparks, and igniting the vapor is all carried out with a s1ngleoperation, namelyeffecting the movement of the cap, ashas been described. AIt T05 will be apparent, of course, that we have embodied certain princi les of construction and operation in one p ysical form as set` forth in the drawing for the purpose of illustrating these principles but we do not desire to be strictly limited to the physical form depicted butto any mechanical structure within these principles as defined in the appended claims.

What we seek to secure'by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a pyrophoric lighter of the type described, the combination comprising a fuel container, a flint tube and wick tube mounted therein, a rotatably supported flint wheel on said container adapted to Contact with the flint which projects fromthe flint tube, a rotatable and vertically movable cap `supported on the container, and means on said cap for effecting rotation of the flint wheel, said means on the cap moving into position to engage. and rotate the flint wheel when the cap is givenA a vertical and rotational movement.

2. In a pyrophoric lighter of the type described, the combination comprising a fuel container, a flint tube having a flint therein mounted rin the container, a wick tube mounted Yin said container, a Hint wheel and ratchet vwheels rotatably supported on the container for conjoint rotation, a slotted snuller arm supported at its slotted portion for rotation on and translation with respect to the container, and means on the snufler arm for intermittently engaging the ratchet wheels to rotate the flint wheel as the snufier arm is moved.

3. In a pyrophoric lighter of the type described, the combination comprising a fuel container, a flint tube having a flint therein mounted in the container,` a wick tube mounted in said container, a flint wheel 'and ratchet wheels rotatably supported on the container for conjoint rotation, a snufl'er arm mounted for rotational and vertical movement on said container, and means on said snuier arm for engaging the ratchet wheels upon vertical movement of the snuffer arm, said means effecting rotation of the ratchet wheels and flint wheel upon rotational movement of the snuffer arm.

4. In a pyrophoric lighter of the type described, the combination comprising a fuell container, a flint tube having a flint therein mounted in the container, a wick tube mounted in said container, a flint wheel supported l on said container and' ratchet wheels rotatably supported on either side of said flint w eel for conjolnt rotation, a snufi'er arm .mounted for rotational and vertical movement on said container, and means on said snufer arm for engaging the ratchet wheels upon vertical movement of the snullier arm, said meansefi'ecting rotation of the ratchet wheels and flint wheel upon rotational `move ment of the snuffer arm, said snufl'er arm b e- 65 .ment is overcome.

' ing in the form 'of a-cap which entirely encloses in one position the-wicktube and wick.

. ting wheel. adapted to work a inst said and the Hint wheel-and ratchet wheels.

5. In a pyrophoric lighter of the type described, the combination comprising a fuel container, a Hinttube having -a Hint therein mounted inthe container, a wick tube 'mounted in said container, a Hint wheel and ratchet wheels rotatably supported on the container for conjoint rotation, a snuter arm mounted for rotation and vertical movement on said container, means on said snuifer arm for engaging the ratchet wheels upon vertical movevment of the snuHer arm, said means effecting.

rotation of the ratchet wheels and Hint wheel `upon rotational movement of the snutl'er arm, and means for resiliently resisting` vertical and rotational movement pf the snuter arm and to effect closing movement thereof when lieved'of pressure.

In a` pyrophoric lighterof the type desc ibed, the combination comprisin -a fuel c ntainer having a Hint tube and wick tube herein, a Hint in saidHint tube, a Hint wheel rotatably supported atop said container in Working proximity with said Hint, ratchet wheels secured to said Hint wheel and adapted to rotation therewith, a slotted rotatable and vertically movable snuifer arm supported on said container at its slotted portion for rotation with said Hint and ratchet wheels onl said pin within said hollowspindle and having an end thereof extending without said spindle, a rotatably supported Hint wheel mounted atop said container in working proxto said Hint wheel for rotation therewith, a slotted rotatable and vertically movable snuffer arm adapted to carry saidsnuer capandV supported on said container at its slotted portion and having a cutaway portion against which the en d of the resilientelement extendin g without the hollow spindle bears to normally keep the snuier cap lon the wickand the snuier arm out of engagementwith the `ratchet wheel, and means on said snuH'er arm imity with the Hint.a ratchet wheel securedpeened ends, a resilient element mounted on" Y snuHer arm and saidi spark producing mechfor effecting interengagement thereof with-v the ratchet wheels upon depression of the j snuer arm-when the effect of the resilient ele- 8.. In a. structure of lthe type described, a Hint tube-having a Hint therein, a'Hint cutcured at itsslotted portion to'said hollowed out spindle-shaft and having a cutaway portion at one end thereof, a resilient member disposed in said hollowed out spindle shaft and having an end thereof ada ted to bear against the cutaway ortion o the snuer arm internally thereo tonormally keep thesnuier arm in snuing position and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, and means for effecting interengagement thereof upon de ression'of the snufer arm on the v hollowe out spindle shaft at the slotted portion of said snuier arm, when the effect o f the resilient member is overcome. J 9. In a pyrophoric lighter of the type described, the combination comprising a fuel container, a wick tube and a wick supported therein, a YHint and a Hint tube supported therein, a Hint wheel rotatably supported in contact with the Hint, a ratchet wheel vsecured to said Hint wheel for conjoint rotation there- 4with, and a slotted cap adapted to transla- 4--tion at and along its slotted portion to engage with` and rotate said ratchet wheel to effect ignition of the wick when uncovered by actuation ofthe cap, said cap bein adapted when no longer actuated to automat cally disengage from the ratchet wheel and be reely returned 19 without rotation of the Hint or ratchet wheels.

10. In a pyrophoric lighter of the type described, the combination comprising a fuel container, a Hint tube supported therein, a vHint in said-tube, a wick tube, an inflammable 1,05

wick in said wick tube, a pivot, a Hint wheel r rotatably mounted on said pivot in contact with said Hint, a ratchet wheel secured to said `Hint wheel for'conjoint rotation therewith, a slotted translatable and rotatable cap en- 1 'gaging at its slotted portion-with the pivot of thel ratchet and H1nt wheels, and means carried by said cap for eifectinginterengagel ment thereof with -theratchet wheel when s aid cap is depressed` for subsequentrotation. l 11. In a cigar lighter of the type described, afuel container, a spark producing mechanism mounted atop said container, an inHammable wick, a snuH'er cap, a slotted translatable and rotatable snufer arm for carrying 1 said cap, means normallytendingto keep said snui'er arm disengaged from the s ark producing mechanism, and means fore ectmg rotational interengagement between said -12'5 anism after said snuH'er arm h'asbeen translated and depressed for subsequent rotation. 12. In an artangement of the type. dei s clil'iebed, the combination comprising a Hint t having a resiliently mounted Hint there- 1I-.Wv

in, a ilint wheel rotatably supported so as to contact with the flint, a snuier arm sup orted for rotation and translation, means or effecting interen agement of the snuer arm with the flint weel to rotate said wheel when pressure a plied to the snuifer'arm has caused it to trans ate into osition for rotation .and means tendingto e ect disengagement tllereof when the actuating pressure has been re-v moved after rotation.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto y' set our hands on this 28th EDWARD F. CLARK.

JAMES F. ROGERS.

day of December, v 

